Manfredo in a Good Spot With Chavez Jr., Sturm Fights

By Rick Reeno

Two days ago, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum advised BoxingScene.com that Peter Manfredo Jr. and Darren Barker were the two frontrunners to face WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the tentative date of September 24. On Monday, promoter Lou DiBella secured Barker for a showdown with Sergio Martinez on October 1. That leaves Manfredo as the last man standing in the Chavez sweepstakes.

Chavez is not the only champion on Manfredo's plate. DiBella informed BoxingScene that WBA champion Felix Sturm is very interested in facing Manfredo in the fall. Sturm defends his belt against Matthew Macklin on June 25.

"I think the fighter there would be the most interest in [among those in the running] is Manfredo anyway. Manfredo also has the possibility of fighting Sturm. But Manfredo does want the fight with Chavez. Bob and I have already had some discussions. I'm just waiting on the offer from them," DiBella said to BoxingScene.com.